Why is ball play considered a teaching tool that shouldn't be wasted?
Dog Smart professional interpretation
By Dog Smart Training & Behaviour · · · 1 min read
In short
Ball play is highly reinforcing, and every launch reinforces the chain of behaviours that preceded it, meaning dogs are always learning during play — so it should be used with a plan, much like the clicker training idea that 'what you click is what you get' becomes 'what you chuck is what you get.'
The fuller picture
No.5 Don`t waste it, this little game is highly reinforcing, every-time you launch that ball you reinforce one or usually a chain of behaviours that happened before it, your dogs are always learning. You can teach so much with play if you use it correctly and use the right sort of play for your learner, this isn't a game this is a teaching tool so like anything you teach have a plan. In clicker training there is an expression "What you click is what you get" never a truer word said! I want you to take this one from me. "What you chuck is what you get"